QA

Question: How To Refinish An Antique Table

Can antique furniture be restored?

Most antiques restoration work is completed on pieces that hold more sentimental than monetary value. Some antiques owners restore or refinish a piece to revive a cherished heirloom. Some DIY for a sense of self accomplishment.

Can I refinish just the top of a table?

Depending on the type of table top and finish you’re working with, you could get away with lightly sanding or repainting the table to give it a new look. We successfully stripped the varnish and stain and refinished the table top over a few days.

How do you seal antique wood furniture?

Seal the Wood If your furniture has cracks or holes, use a filler that matches the color and grain of the wood. Apply a generous coat of sealant all over the furniture. Wipe away any excess with a clean cloth. Once the sealant is dry, use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Wipe away excess wood dust.

How do you finish antique wood?

Use a lacquer, varnish or polyurethane that will protect the wood and stain, and add a nice sheen to your piece. Restoring old furniture is a rewarding process that can bring a whole new look to the wood pieces in your home.

How do you restore old wood furniture without stripping?

How to restore wood furniture without sanding and stripping Remove any hardware. Wipe on mineral spirits. Clean the surface. Fix the white rings. Fill small cracks and imperfections. Try to fix the dents. Restore the colour with gel stain. Renew the lustre with a wipe-on finish.

How do you make old wood look new again?

Mix thoroughly ¾ cup of oil (canola oil is perfect) and ¼ cup of vinegar (white or apple cider). Follow application instructions, and your wood pieces will be looking as good as new in no time!Jul 10, 2014.

How do I restore a table top finish?

Step 1: Clean the Surface. Use gentle soap and water to remove dirt and oils from the table’s existing finish. Step 2: Apply Stripper. If the table is painted or varnished, you’ll need to strip the surface. Step 3: Clean With Mineral Spirits. Step 4: Sand Table Surface. Step 5: Apply Stain. Step 6: Apply Finish.

Does refinishing an antique reduce value?

So, the short answer to this question is NO, refinishing a piece of furniture or doing furniture repair does NOT decrease the piece’s value… but there are a few circumstances that need to be considered. Instead of furniture refinishing a period piece, Finish Pros recommends preserving it to prevent further damage.

Can you use pledge on antique furniture?

Avoid using Pledge® or a similar commercial polish on antique furniture. Apply wax to surfaces only every three to five years and use only traditional furniture paste wax, not a cream or spray. Make sure that the wax does not contain silicone.

How do you make an old dining table look modern?

7 Ways to Refresh the Look of an Existing (Old/Boring/Not You) Dining Table Refinish the finish. You’d be surprised what a new finish on an old dining table can do. Distract with chairs. Forget chairs. Table cloth. Amazing light fixture. Set it. Replace the base.

How do you sand back a table?

Sand the table, beginning with the coarsest-grit sandpaper (100 grit) and sanding in the direction of the wood grain. Next, sand the table with the 150-grit paper, and finish by sanding with the 220-grit paper. Wipe the surface of the entire table using the tack cloth.

How much does it cost to refinish a table top?

Cost to Refinish a Table. A basic table will range between $200 and $600 to refinish. The process is typically the same regardless of condition, and price changes only based on size. For any wooden table, the process involves stripping the old finish and applying a new final coat.

What kind of finish is on my antique furniture?

The finish on a piece made before 1860 is usually shellac; if the piece is very old, it may be oil, wax, or milk paint. Fine old pieces are often French-polished, a variation of the shellac finish. A lacquer or varnish finish is a sure sign of later manufacture.

Is it better to sand or strip furniture?

Stripping a finish is faster than sanding to remove it. But more importantly, sanding cuts through stain and patina (the color changes in wood caused by light and oxidation), and it does so unevenly. Jan 3, 2018.

How do you refinish a table top without stripping it?

The key to re-staining a wood dining table top without having to strip off the original factory finish is to create a soft, faux wood grain appearance with gel stain. Followed by several coats of a durable clear sealer. It’s actually not that hard to do.

What kind of oil do you use on antique furniture?

Linseed oil was used long ago because it was inexpensive and readily available. Oil finishes are still used today on new and antique furniture, because they are very easy to apply and give a very natural look the the finished wood.

What do you use on antique wood?

The correct method is to rub boiled linseed oil into the wood using a clean lint free cloth. Rub in oil very vigorously until the wood looks replenished and won’t soak up any more linseed oil. With your cloth rub off the excess oil and leave the piece of antique furniture to dry over night.

Can you Restain wood without stripping?

Minwax® PolyShades® is an easy way to change the color of your currently stained or polyurethane finished wood. There’s no stripping or heavy sanding necessary to remove the old finish!.